Tips for Prisoner Support
(Adapted from Earth First Action Update which itself was adapted from a leaflet produced by the Anarchist Black Cross.)
Prisoner support is pretty dire within the UK radical ecological resistance
movement. Whether an activivst gets much support or not, largely seems to
depend on whether they are well known enough within the movement. Support
and solidarity for those outisde of our movement, also fighting for social
change and a more egalitarian future, get little attention. These pages
contain a guide for helping getting started writing to prisoners and a list
of just some of the people currently locked up for taking action. There is
also a list of just some of the support groups that exist within the UK to
support those imprisoned around the world and encourage practical
solidarity, whether it be through letter writing, lobbying parole boards,
raising funds for someone's defence case or simply highlighting a prisoners
plight. Write to any or all of the prisoners listed, and you can also seek
out more information from the support groups. Prison may no seem like it is
going to be much of an issue to you,but for increasingly large sections of
people, both within and outside of our movement it is a grim day to day
reality they face.
Writing to Prisoners
One of the main problems that puts people off getting involved in
supporting prisoners is a feeling of being intimidated about writing to a
prisoner for the first time. It is very hard to write a letter to someone
you don't know: people find that they don't know what to say, they feel
there are things they can't talk about, or think that prisoners won't be
interested in what they have to say. Well this is a problem most of us have
had to get over, so we've drawn up some suggestions to help you. Obviously
these aren't rigid guidelines, and we don't pretend to have solved all
problems here. Different people will write different letters - hopefully the
ideas below will be of some use.
First Things First
Some prisons restrict the number of letters a prisoner can write or receive,
and they may have to buy stamps and envelopes, and prisoners aren't
millionaires. So don't necessarily expect a reply to a card or letter. A lot
of prisons allow stamps and/or s.a.e.s to be included with a card or letter,
but some don't. Letters do also get stopped, read, delayed, 'diverted'. If
you suspect something has been or will be nicked by the screws, you can send
it Recorded Delivery, which unfortunately costs a lot but then they have to
open it in the prisoners presence. Also you should put a return address, not
just so the prisoner can reply (!), but also because some prisons don't
allow letters without a return address. Of course it doesn't have to be your
address, but be careful using PO box numbers as some prisons don't allow
this either!
Writing for the First Time
Say who you are, and that you're from such and such a group if you think
this is relevant. Some people reckon it's better to be upfront about your
politics as well, to give prisoners the choice to stay in contact with you
or not.
Say where you heard about them and their case. The first letter can be
reasonably short, maybe only a postcard. Obviously when you get to know
people better you'll have more to talk about. If you are writing to a
"framed" prisoner, and you believe them to be innocent, it helps to say so,
as it gives people confidence to know that you believe them.
Some people when they write to prisoners, are afraid to talking about their
lives, what they are up to, thinking this may depress people banged up,
especially prisoners with long sentences, or that they are not interested in
your life. Although in some cases this may be true, on the whole a letter is
the highpoint of the day for most prisoners. Prison life is dead boring, and
any news that livens it up, whether it's about people they know or not, is
generally welcome. Especially if you didn't know them before they went to
prison, they want to know about you, what your life is like etc. Use your
sense, don't write about anything that is likely to get a prisoner in shit
with the screws, or get you or anyone else in trouble with the cops.
They're in There for Us, We're out Here for Them
For people imprisoned from our movements and struggles it's vital to keep
them involved in the ongoing resistance - telling them about actions,
sending them magazines if they want them, discussing ideas and strategies
with them. Use your head though. Some people will just want to keep their
head down till they get out.
Other Tips
If you want to send books or magazines to a prisoner it is best to check
the rules of the prison first, they all vary. Also write to the prisoner and
find out if they want them. Some prisoners may not want inciting or
subversive material sent to them as it may get them unwanted attention.
Remand prisoners are usually allowed fairly regular visits of up to three
people. Convicted prisoners are allowed less. To find out exact details,
again, phone the prison.
Further Reading on Prison
- Strangeways 1990: A serious disturbance. Available from AK Press, PO Box 12766, Edinburgh, EH8 9YE, UK.
- Live From Death Row and Death Blossoms - both writings by death row prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal. Also available from AK Press (see above)
- In the Strongbox - pamphlet about life in strongbox cells in Parkhurst Prisons. Available from the Anarchist Black Cross along with a wide range of other prison writings.
- The Prisoners' Handbook - pricey but useful reference of all the UK prisons and details of their regimes, overcrowding etc.
Current Prisoners
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